age is such a weird thing. we always, always misperceive it in some way or another.

i'm 37.

this morning, i had my first physical in almost 3 years with the doctor i've had since i was 12. he's my mother's doctor and treated my dad for a few years in the 80s. i went in today with the attitude that my health has taken serious hits in the last few years and that in combination with my age and sometimes poor health habits, i should expect to have a less than a stellar mark-up. i also felt that now's the time to start being super honest and up-front with him, so he can do the best job he can keeping me alive.

so -- i poured out all my concerns, behaviors, vices, diet, etc. i didn't sugar-coat any of it. when it was the lung check, i didn't try to hide my wheezes. when he grabbed my nuts to cough, i told him it's sometimes getting hard to crap. i didn't hold back. i figured it was time for me to put all my cards on the table and face the music.

after i dressed and we consulted further, reviewed my family history, i told him point blank, "i'm seriously concerned about my health and i worry sometimes that i will die younger than i'd like."

he nodded and smiled and said, "nope, you're gonna live a long one, most likely."

i can't believe it. i'm kind of stunned.

my first thought: could it be true?

my second: i should get a new doctor. or at least a 2nd opinion.

Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:50 pm

jakethesnakeguy who cried about wrestling being real

Joined: 03 Feb 2006
Posts: 6311
Location: airstrip one

If you talked to a GP with 30+ years of experience (and 20+ years with yourself) that told you, "you're doing fine" then I'd probably trust them. Then again it's your doctor and you know them better than any of us will.

Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:05 pm

xX gideon Xx

Joined: 22 Sep 2008
Posts: 142

i guess i just felt like maybe after all my worry, he might sugar-coat in response to me, perhaps exactly because he's known me and my family since i was a kid.

when i turned 30, i thought my life was over. then a year or two ago an SFF thread went into a whole conversation about whether or not one can get it up artistically or professionally and make any huge advancements after 30. a lot of people chimed in they felt that the essential energy necessary for achievement burns out once our hormones shift out of our youth. i was so depressed when i read that.

i wonder if anyone's thoughts have changed on that idea...

Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:42 pm

tommi teardrop

Joined: 12 Apr 2007
Posts: 2217
Location: Las Vegas

The only real negative I feel about getting older is just having to watch what I eat a lot more. If I eat or drink like shit or eat huge portions, I feel terrible the next day.

And my joints ache a little, but it's not a big deal. I want to go get a physical like you did this year just to be safe.

But whoever came up with that shit about men reaching their sexual peak at 18 was completely wrong. I'm 30 and it is still exactly the same. I could probably stand to lose little drive.

The funny thing about getting older is, that I find myself doing all of the annoying mannerisms that bugged the shit out of me when my dad did them. You have to actively try to not become your parents.

Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:11 pm

Nahgied

Joined: 30 Mar 2004
Posts: 376
Location: Ontario

1. 24
2. researcher
3. uk
4. pints

Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:35 pm

Captiv8

Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 8546
Location: Third Coast

Nahgied wrote: 1. 24
2. researcher
3. uk
4. pints

Ontario + UK does not compute.

Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:08 pm

Nahgied

Joined: 30 Mar 2004
Posts: 376
Location: Ontario

Permanent.
Current.

Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:14 pm

Captiv8

Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 8546
Location: Third Coast

Nahgied wrote: Permanent.
Current.

Your life sounds cooler and more interesting than mine.

Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:09 pm

Hellen Earthcould be a girl. could be a guy.

Joined: 09 Jan 2003
Posts: 1282
Location: Fitchburg, MA

xX gideon Xx wrote: i guess i just felt like maybe after all my worry, he might sugar-coat in response to me, perhaps exactly because he's known me and my family since i was a kid.

when i turned 30, i thought my life was over. then a year or two ago an SFF thread went into a whole conversation about whether or not one can get it up artistically or professionally and make any huge advancements after 30. a lot of people chimed in they felt that the essential energy necessary for achievement burns out once our hormones shift out of our youth. i was so depressed when i read that.

i wonder if anyone's thoughts have changed on that idea...

I think the energy necessary for achievement can come from a variety of places, hormones being only one.